Arthur Pendleton Bagby

[Gen. States Rights Gist]

Does anyone have any info on Arthur Pendleton Bagby's promotion from Brigadier General then to Major General?

 

[M E Wolf]

Confederate Military History, Vol. 11
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Brigadier-General Arthur Pendleton Bagby was born in Alabama, and appointed from that State to the United States military academy at West Point. He was graduated in 1852, and promoted in the army to brevet second lieutenant of infantry, after which he served in garrison at Fort Columbus, New York, 1852-53, and on frontier duty at Fort hadbourne, Texas, 1853. He resigned in September of that year, and began the study of law. Being admitted to the bar, he practiced at Mobile, Ala., from 1854 to 1858; then moved to Gonzales, Tex., and was living there in 1861, when the war between the States began. He was, during 1861, major in the Seventh Texas, becoming colonel of the regiment in 1862. This regiment was in General Sibley's command in New Mexico in 1862, sharing the hardships and victories of that campaign of varied experiences. On January 1, 1863, having been promoted in the latter part of 1862, he took part in the memorable victory at Galveston, which was of substantial benefit to the Confederate cause. The land and naval forces were under the command of General Magruder, who thus referred to Colonel Bagby's part in the affair: "Col. A. P. Bagby, of Sibley's brigade, commanded the volunteers from his regiment for the naval expedition, in which every officer and man won imperishable renown." Gen. Richard Taylor, during his operations in West Louisiana in 1863, frequently spoke of Bagby in complimentary terms. Referring to the battle near Berwick bay, he said: "Colonel Bagby was wounded seriously, but not dangerously, in the arm, but remained on the field with his regiment until the enemy had been driven back and ceased his attacks." So frequently is Colonel Bagby's gallantry alluded to in the reports of both Taylor and Magruder that it is certain that the rank of brigadier-general, which was conferred upon him during 1863, seldom if ever was bestowed upon one more worthy of the honor. During the Red river campaign, before, during and after the battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, his services were very great. The high esteem in which he was held by his superior officers is shown by the fact that after the surrender of Lee and Johnston, but before the final submission of the Trans-Mississippi department, he was in Gen. Kirby Smith's general orders promoted to major-general, May 16, 1865. After the war he went back to his law business, continuing to reside in Texas, his adopted State.

M. E. Wolf